5 comments about Robot Programming : A Practical Guide to Behavior-Based Robotics.

1. The book is easy to read and a good introducion to behavior based programming. I always like it when the author uses some humor to turn a book that could have been a boring "must read" into an entertaining experience.



2. The book aims squarely at teaching the concepts of behavior based robotic programming without being simplistic or being overly technical. A good example is PID controllers -- the ID stand for integral and differential. He doesn't dive down into the mathematics of it but does point out that those two stages of the controller a not separately tunable.
   
   The book doesn't present a lot of pseudo code nor does it focus on an type of microprocessor or language.
   
   It gives very good conceptual descriptions of how to create architectures that allow multiple sensors and actuators to act together to produce meaningful and emergent behavior while pointing out pitfalls and problems that may crop up. The book is chock full of block diagrams showing the setups being discussed.



3. This is a nice little book. It introduces some important concepts in an overall very readable text. Of course the book doesn't offer much technical detail or any real code but sometimes it comes close. If you already have any experience in programming you can easily get the point in the example pseudo codes and adapt them for your own use.
   There is a major problem about this book though. The online robot simulation program was available from the link given inside the book but this website is not active anymore so you can not practice the ideas using the "bsim" program.



4. I have read dozens of robotics books over the years and most of them suck. They were either too academic or too basic. This book is excellent and was a refreshing change.
   
   Written by one of the designers of iRobots Roomba, this book is indeed a practical guide to robotics. It is easy to read and full of practical advice that one would only get if they spent the last 20 something years working with robots. For example, the author repeatedly warns you to expect the unexpected.
   
   Even though this book incudes access to a simulator tool, the author constantly reminds you of what could occur in the real world. This book is for anyone attempting to build a single-purpose mobile robot (whether as a commercial developer or a hobbyist). Rather than focusing on a specific language or platform, the author uses pseudocode to explain concepts. The pseudocode should save you hours of frustration. At the very least, the authors good sense of humor makes reading the book quite enjoyable.



5. Most of the robot books I've purchased rarely explained the detail of how you could create some kind of "intelligent" program and expand it as you need. This book give you an example using pseudo code so basically you could implement it in any programming language usually found in embedded programming such as C, Basic/Stamp or Assembler. I would highly recommend this book for robotics enthusiast who wants to make their robot behave like it has some kind of intelligent.

3 comments about Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics.

1. This is a fairly good text; however the authors have found it necessary to include silly "Bio-Connections" and "Environment" editorals at 5 to 10 page intervals. These are nothing more than warm-fuzzies for bio-engineers who may be taking a thermo-class, and PC "global warming" editorials that have little technical benefit to teaching the core material. It became particularly infuriating when you see a 3/4 page silly "bio-connections" editorial on fluorocarbon global warming and they in the same section neglect having an explanatory figure on the P-v vapor dome. Or they devote 3/4 page on a "bio-connections" essay on storing bananas in zip-lock bags (trying to connect bio-chem with thermodynamics), and give short shrift to the Kelvin-Plank statement (and only supply a very skimpy 2"x2" figure for the explaining Kelvin-Plank).
   
   The editorial board and tag-along sub-authors damaged this text. Stick with engineering and the fundamentals - and for crying out loud if you want to add "bio", "nano-nano" and carbon credits DON'T do it at the expense of Kelvin and Clausius.
   
   I like the text's general concise-ness, and the problem sets and example problems are pretty good. The Cengel text gives better explanations, but is more wordy.



2. This is a very good text book, it is well written and keeps it short and sweet. It gets to the point. One great feature is that it boxes in derivations that are not nessacary to understand, this way you don't get bogged down in a lot of text. There are tons of examples in the book and no mistakes that I could find. You really can read and understand everything from the text, you don't really need a teacher, which is saying alot, because most books are impossible to read and figure out what's going on. I agree the bio part is worthless, but Moran is obviously into that stuff because he always mentioned it in class. It's really not a bad thing...just skip it, who cares if it's in there. Overall if you want a good thermo book, whether it's self taught or in a class, it's a good choice.



3. 
   I took a course in Thermo as an undergrad, but I basically just learned how to solve the textbook problems to the point where I was able to pass the tests, but I never got a good intuitive understanding of the subject.
   
   My major was EE so one term of Thermo was a required course but not in the mainstream of my studies, so I never needed to understand it in any greater depth.
   
   
   I recently retired from my career as an EE and have been wanting to become more knowledgable about energy, since I think it is probably the toughest science/engineering issue facing society for the forseeable future.
   
   It dawned on me at some point that if I want to be knowledgable about energy, I need to do more than just read books about energy sources, I need to have a decent grounding in those technical disciplines that energy technologies are based on. The most obvious was Thermodynamics, although I decided I should also beef up my Chemistry.
   
   And I realized, by golly, I can learn this stuff, because of my engineering background and the fact that I'm not too old for my brain to be decomposing too badly so far.
   
   For the moment, I am studying this book on Thermo.
   
   I am really happy with this book. They really cover the material with a lot of rigor and give a ton of examples which really help get an intuitive understanding of what the concepts mean for practical systems.
   
   I haven't finished the book, but am far enough along to be able to judge it. Right now I'm in the chapter on Exergy. I don't believe we ever got into that in the 1st term Thermo I took 30 years ago or so. The Exergy concept really makes a lot of sense in tying everything together and providing a comprehensive approach toward evaluating the efficiency of a particular system.
   
   I do wonder about the notation, though. They denote exergy with an "E", which seems like it could lead to its being mixed up with energy.
   
   Wikipedia says that Exergy is denoted by the letter "B". Not sure where that came from but it seems like a good idea to use a completely different letter for it.
   
   Aside from some minor issues like that, this book seems outstanding to me. I gather it is the predominant textbook for thermo these days. I would say it deserves that status.
   
   I am really looking forward to the later chapters I haven't gotten to yet on the various types of engines and turbos and whatnot.
   
   
   For the material to really sink in, I know I will need to read the book a second time, but the second pass should go quite a bit faster than the first.

5 comments about How to Hot Rod Volkswagen Engines.

1. Even though this book was written in the 70's and there are alot of performance upgrades now,compared to back then, it was still very informative to the basics of supin up your peashootin bug.



2. O.K. The book is archaic, BUT anyone who is seriously interested in the history of VW performance and understanding basic air-cooled fundamentals must read this. There are some sections of no practical use today, but many principles are timeless. Anyone who wants to understand the theory and physics of the engine should read this book. The knowledge base gained from reading this book can help prevent you from making the same mistakes your father or grandfather made when modifying their Beetle!



3. Has alot of good valuable information to add HP to your VW. And what combinations work well togather. How to get mor bang for your buck. Downfalls is it is a bit out dated and doesn't have a section on step by step how to put togather a hot rod motor.



4. This book gives you exactly what it claims. All the best ways to improve performance on your VW. There is quite a bit for the average bug guy but has great technical information for the top mechanics. I wish there had been a bit more on improving fuel injected engines though.



5. The How to Hot Rod Volkswagen Engines was over my head.

5 comments about Schaum's Outline of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics (Schaum's).

1. Like all of the Schaum guides for subjects in Mechanical Engineering, this outline provides a good overview of fluid mechanics, but it doesn't go into a great deal of depth. It's easy to find the equations if you want to use the book as a reference manual or a study guide, and the problems can serve as a good supplement to an undergraduate class in Fluids.



2. I am not a mechanical engineer. Instead, I am an electrical engineer who took an undergraduate fluid mechanics class last fall to help with some graphical simulation work I was doing. However, I still had to pass the same examinations and do the same homework as the other students who did have a mechanical engineering background, and I found this outline immensely helpful. This book is an excellent source of problem-solving techniques and exercises for anyone who is taking an undergraduate course in fluid mechanics, which is the branch of science concerned with how fluids behave at rest or in motion. This outline assumes that you are already familiar with statics and with calculus, and it makes heavy use of both subjects. There is not a lot of verbal explanation in this outline. Explanation is done mainly through the introduction of some formulas, and then some completely worked out examples using those formulas. It is not at all dry in its presentation, however, and makes heavy and appropriate use of instructive figures and diagrams. Fluid mechanics is about solving problems, and the most difficult part is analyzing the system and reducing it to a series of equations. Once this has been achieved there are a number of standard methods that can be used to solve them. This book gives a good amount of practice at allowing the student to figure out how to approach larger problems in chapters 8 through 10 - "Flow in Closed Conduits", "Complex Pipeline Systems", and "Flow in Open Channels", and also in the final chapter of the outline "Fluid Machinery". This book is a great companion to Munson's "Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics", which is the best textbook on the subject that I have encountered.



3. It is an excellent condition and delivered on time.



4. I like this book very much. It has a lot of good information.



5. The outline was a handy, well-organized supplemental text that helped because we were using a really poor textbook. The worked problems were especially useful, but the summaries were clear, too.

3 comments about String Theory Demystified.

1. As one of the reviewers who has criticized many of the others in the Demystified series, I wanted desperately this time to find something good I could say about the current volume. And although there is "different news" to report on this volume, it too still is not always good.
   
   To his credit this time around, the author does make a heroic effort to put some order to an otherwise complex and disorderly subject matter. There is however, just much too much going on to treat String Theory casually and sophomorically. At every stage it seems to require "in-depth" analysis as well as "in-depth" explanations. So, I appreciate the challenge he was up against.
   
   I believe this time the author has done the "in-depth" analysis much more thoroughly than in the previous difficult topics in this series. However, he did not help his cause when he cited his own previously failed efforts as a reference for difficult to understand things such as Quantum Mechanics and QED.
   
   One of the problems is that he has repeatedly failed to invest sufficient explanatory time "up front," leaving too much of the "demystifying process" to the later mathematical equations, which for the most part, are the exact opposite of demystification. The reader expects to be "demystified" rather than "further mystified" and therefore should not be required to do all of the demystifying himself by reading between the lines of the text and having to intuit and otherwise ferret out the meanings implicit in the equations.
   
   That said, there is good news to report. The introduction does give a more than adequate account of what needs to be done to resolve the large-scale and small-scale problem -- i.e., between Relativistic phenomena and Quantum level phenomena, especially in demonstrating convincingly how the force of gravity would be adequately accounted for. The discussions of the constants required "to bring the four forces into phase, basically nailed down any doubts about the need for a paradigm shift to a new theory, String Theory. It is the first time that I have fully understood how this merger would take place.
   
   For this alone the book gets three stars. It would have helped if the authors had given even a minimum review of the role symmetry and super-symmetry such as the "Gage Group" and their respective "symmetry breaking" actions play in this whole process. It is one thing for the reader to have to intuit these meanings, and quite another to see ones understanding confirmed in the text. As it stands, I was required to refer to other texts to get fuller explanations and understandings of the role of these centrally important ideas.
   
   As for the rest of the book, as with the previous ones, there are many equations thrown about with little explanation, as if the mere presentation of complex equations themselves were sufficient to demystify a complex subject. It is not.
   
   Three Stars



2. The most challenging part of string theory for those who want to learn it is not the routine calculations and "index gymnastics" that is found in this book but rather the essential meaning and "intuition" behind the mathematics of the theory. As physical theories go, string theory makes unprecedented use of very complicated and esoteric mathematics, coming from fields such as algebraic geometry, algebraic topology, and the theory of several complex variables. The cover of this book promises that the reader will be able to understand the mathematical tools necessary to "decipher" string theory, but it does not make good on these promises.
   
   What the book does rather well is to introduce the reader well versed in relativistic quantum field theory to string theory as it was articulated in the first two decades of its discovery as a theory. Yes, the author does discuss more modern topics in string theory such as D-branes, Chan-Paton indices, the Ads/CFT correspondence, and the holographic principle, but he does so in a manner that does not shed light on the formidable mathematics behind these concepts. The treatment is very cursory and does not prepare the reader for meaningful perusal of the research literature.
   
   There is no discussion for example on the mathematics of Calabi-Yau manifolds, and the accompanying notions of holonomy, mirror symmetry, and orbifolds. There is no in-depth discussion on how non-Abelian gauge symmetries are incorporated into string theory other than what is done in one chapter on heterotic string theory. There is no discussion at all on how to use K-theory to classify D-brane charges. Yes, these are all complex mathematical topics, but it is THESE topics that cause problems for students or those curious about string theory, especially those that are teaching themselves, a readership that this book was supposedly written to target.
   
   This reviewer recommends the book by Becker, Becker, and Schwarz as the best one for addressing some of the "intuition" behind the mathematics of string theory. To get a deep appreciation of this mathematics though will require years of study and searching in the original mathematical literature, some of this going back over a century. It is well worth the time and effort, even if one does not intend to conduct original research in string theory, but instead is passionately curious about what could in terms of its mathematics alone be easily described as the most beautiful theory ever constructed.



3. I have just about every book about string theory and theoretical physics written for the lay person- Kaku, Greene, Randall, Smolin, Tyson, Hawking, Feynam, etc.
   
   These books all avoid the complicated math and get to the heart of the theories. I thought this book would be a good introduction to getting into a bit of math... BOY WAS I WRONG.
   
   You pretty much have to be up to speed on all the math to use this book. There is no introduction to calculus or differential equations... what the author does is writes sentences between long equations such as "It follows that" or "and so" without breaking down the origins or introducing the concepts.
   
   Perhaps I was expecting a different book, so I gave him an extra star in case I was at fault. But I was expecting a book that would introduce the layperson to the math involved in String Theory. Instead what I got was a book that requires you know everything about advanced math (and perhaps nothing about how that math applies to String Theory). The author kindly suggests his several other Demystified books if you're rusty in the math.

5 comments about Beyond the Black Box: The Forensics of Airplane Crashes.

1. I heartily recommend this book. Bibel gives lots of stories of airline crashes and diasters-a surprising number with reasonably happy endings. The stories themselves are fascinating and should be required reading for all pilots and flight attendants. But everyone should appreciate the stories and the care that the entire air industry puts into air safety-and much of the physics and engineering behind it. Very enjoyable read.



2. In correspondence with Mr. Bibel, we both agreed that one of the most startling conclusions: in many airliner crashes, at least some people get out safely and survive. Get Out Quick!
   
   ***
   
   George Bibel has written a fascinating book about what happens in the crashes of commercial airliners. He presents several case studies of airplane accidents, investigations and lessons learned. The book contains many drawings, graphs, and equations that illustrate his points.
   
   These investigations have led to many improvements in airliner design. For example, passengers are often disturbed when they see the wings flapping in turbulence. That's intentional. The wings of a 777, for example, must bend upward 24 feet so it can pull out of an emergency dive before it can be certified to fly.
   
   Planes can survive major blast damage. In 1986, a TWA jet withstood the explosion of a bomb. Four passengers were killed, but the plane landed safely, and 117 people survived. Other survivable occurrences include violent engine shuddering, sputtering flames and engine shutdown.
   
   Some of the statistics surprised me. Of the 446 DC-10s ever delivered, 27 were involved in crashes that led to "total hull loss." Most of the deaths occurred in four of the crashes. Overall, 69% survived, and in 23 of the crashes, over 90% survived. Bottom line: you are five times more likely to be in a crash that is survivable than in a crash that isn't.
   
   Getting out quickly is critical. In a 1989 crash the plane broke into multiple sections and a fireball erupted, but 185 of 296 people survived, including a baby placed on the floor as instructed by the flight crew.
   
   Important lessons for passengers:
   
   First, listen carefully to the on board announcements. Many are delivered quickly over sometimes faulty sound systems. Surveys show that over half of the passengers don't pay any attention to the safety announcements.
   
   Second, keep your seat belt fastened throughout the flight.
   
   Third, in case of an emergency landing or crash, follow instructions carefully and get out of the plane quickly.
   
   I found this a clearly written, very useful review of current airline safety. George Bibel also maintains an excellent website to update the information in his book.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008



3. As an airline pilot and safety researcher, I ordered "Beyond the Black Box" as soon as it became available. This book is different from most books about aircraft accidents in that it focuses on the actual dynamics and mechanical processes of aircraft accidents rather than Human Factors: I found Dr. Bibel's book to be illuminating from a physical sciences viewpoint. The book uses very basic science and math principles (as well as simple experiments suitable for home or classroom use) to explain important points about these accidents.
   
   Some of these accidents are quite well known, even outside of the industry (United 232), while most have been forgotten by everyone other than those directly involved in aviation safety and engineering (the Comet decompression accidents, the British Midland 737 accident at Kegworth, England, etc.), but all are excellent examples of different accident modes. I have studied numerous accidents over the years, and have taught several aviation safety courses, and I think this book is the best introduction to the physical sciences and engineering involved in aviation accidents available to the public. It is written with both expert professional and interested observer in mind, and is easily comprehended; all math and science concepts are thoroughly explained, as are higher order concepts like metal fatigue and fracture analysis.
   
   I recently had the privilege of meeting Dr. Bibel and hearing him speak on aircraft accidents. He was very gracious and approachable, and I enjoyed both his presentation and his book greatly. This book is not written from a pilot's perspective, and as such contains some generalizations about flying procedures and techniques, but as an accessible scientific introduction to the science and dynamics of airplane accidents, this is an enjoyable and engaging book, and I recommend it without reservation.



4. As a pilot who has studied major air crash investigations over the years, this was a great read, with detailed information around the physics of aircraft accidents, backed by interesting statistics around various aspects of air safety today. However one aspect of the book that troubled me is Georges comments around TWA-800, specifically how he states that after the nose of the aircraft was blown off after the initial Centre Wing Tank (CWT) explosion, that the aircraft managed to fly on for a further 40 seconds before stalling. I am astounded that someone with so much aeronautical experience could make such a ridiculous statement, considering the physics involved. With the nose blown off, the CoG (Centre of Gravity) would have immediately shifted aft causing the aircraft to violently pitch up and stall within seconds. To say the aircraft merely flew on straight & level, or even climbed as per the preposterous video released (and subsequently withdrawn) by the CIA, is in my opinion disappointing considering Professor Bibel's extensive experience in this area.
   
   With the exception of this particular comment, I found the book to be a very interesting read, with several case studies followed up with good diagrams, graphs and other illustrations complementing the text. It's a book that I highly recommend to anyone interested in understanding aircraft crashes in further detail to what's currently shown on recent TV documentaries of the same subject.



5. Great book that's hard to put down. It is too technical at times but still enjoyable to read and there are so many interesting facts to learn about.

4 comments about SolidWorks 2008 Tutorial with MultiMedia CD.

1. I'm relatively new to SolidWorks. I've been using SolidWorks for approximately three months. I used AutoCAD and a little PRO/E for ten years. I worked in the Automotive industry; Educational department, and now teach technology / engineering classes for a living.
   
   From the sounds of most reviews, you either are a beginner or an expert using SolidWorks. I'm no expert with 3D CAD, but I do know text books, students, and the way they learn.
   
   I'm teaching a SolidWorks evening class at a Community College this Spring. I purchased this book to better understand SolidWorks and to learn additional features, commands, and design techniques. I was also looking for a text book which would be useful to my students.
   
   The book provides clear and concise procedures in a Project base approach with an incorporated CD to view the actual User Interfaces, and features which are used in the book. The CD also contains additional useful models.
   
   The illustrations are large, clear with bolded step by step procedures. This is essential in a classroom environment when you have 15 or more students at various skill levels.
   
   I look forward in using this book in my classroom. This is a great text book for learning SolidWorks at a beginner to intermediate level.



2. The disc is merely them running through the tutorials at a rather fast speed. I need to look again for hands-on usage, have seen none so far. The book seems detailed, may be a bit tedious, but good for reference.



3. This is the second SolidWorks book which I purchased from Amazon.com in the past month. As a new SolidWorks user, I'm looking for a book / books that provide insight and a general exposure to the User Interface and how to use, apply, edit and learn the software in context to an Engineering approach. This book does a great job in doing this.
   
   The book spends time in describing the functions, features, and tools which are available in SolidWorks whiling creating useful models. The book also provides a systematic approach in teaching the user how to use the software. Throughout the chapters, the authors reiterate what was stated in the previous chapter. This is very helpful to the new user.
   
   The book CD contains movie and model files to view and use. I highly recommend this book for any new SolidWorks user.



4. I needed to write this review to let others instructors understand what is on the market today for teaching solidworks. I, like many instructors are multi tasking this year with various classes. With some training and help from by local Solidworks VAR, I am teaching a 13 week freshmen class on solidworks this semester.
   
   I choose the SolidWorks 2008 Tutorial book by Planchard & Planchard with it's multi-media CD. Boy, I was very lucky to use the right tool, for the right job.
   
   The book provides a priceless multi-media CD that covers all of the important features and steps in the book. Watch and learn. The publisher provides powerpoint slides on the book for class presentations and a suggested syllabus along with all final model files.
   
   The book is well suited for a classroom atmosphere. The material is clearly presented in a very logical manner with large illustrations in a step-by-step approach. You start with learning the SolidWorks Interface and systematically move to 2d sketching and then 3d modeling. The author ties the 3d models which you created to sub-assemblies, assemblies, and finally manufacturable drawings.
   
   Solidworks is so much more than just a drafting tool. Its a learning tool to motivate students to create and design on their own. I am now a believer! 3d rules..

5 comments about Six Sigma Statistics with EXCEL and MINITAB.

1. Quickly had a look at this book, to my thinking, it is good for junior level six sigma reader.



2. Excellent book on using Minitab and Excel to assist in Six Sigma analysis with supporting statistical methods



3. As a BB I find this book really useful. Each chapter has a clear structure, that helps the reader to fully understand the topics.
   Lot of examples and exercises make the reader capable to fully understand the theory and to apply it to real problems.
   I suggest all the BBs to have this book.



4. Very good deployment of topics. To expand those topics more in deep (e.g.: Taguchi) could be even better. Excel & Minitab examples very useful but not developed within same Excel (or Minitab) solution spreadsheets.



5. The author successfully achieved his purpose of explaining Six Sigma statistics using Minitab and Excel; however, I found numerous errors in his explanations of statistical methods and in his conclusions in some examples. I noticed 184 major and minor errors in this book, of which simple typo errors counted only 11. Mr. Bass failed to use Minitab's "Design of Experiment" feature in the chapter titled "Design of Experiment" and explained ANOVA instead, which could have been included in the chapter "Analysis of Variance." He also misapplied Taguchi's Loss Function in Chapter 12. Taguchi's Method usually means his Robust Design Method in DOE rather than his Loss Function.
   
   It seems that Mr. Bass does not have formal training in statistics or mathematics. His understanding of factors, levels, and observations in ANOVA is questionable (p.207, p.211, p.218, p.276) and subscripting in his mathematics was a mess (pp.179-181, p.208, p.222, p.223, p.227). The direction of skewness in the normal distribution was wrong. These errors could have been avoided if Mr. Bass had asked his fellow statistician or mathematician to review his draft copy of this book. The responsibility also goes to the editor of McGraw Hill.
   
   In conclusion, please read this book critically and learn how to use Minitab or Excel for Six Sigma analyses, keeping other statistics textbooks at hand.

3 comments about Visio 2007 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. As usual the Dummies series is pretty good and gives you a general intro and easy to build on concepts and how the product works and how to work it as you need it.



2. I recommend against buying this book. I read only about a third of it and found two errors on fundamental points. On p. 67, there is a glaring misstatement about the use of Wizards that suggests that the authors never even tried the feature they are "explaining." And on page 98 there is a section on "Nudging" shapes where in half a page of text the authors do not reveal the one thing that one must do in order to "nudge" a shape -- namely, hold down the Shift key while using the up and down arrow keys. It appears that nobody bothered to proofread this book after it was written.



3. This book covers the basics of Visio well.
   
   However, when I was finished I could do some things better, but it's not like I could make breathtaking
   diagrams or anything like that.
   
   However, not a bad book for covering the basics and more.

1 comments about Bike, Scooter, and Chopper Projects for the Evil Genius.

1. I purchased this book and also the Bicycle Builder's Bonanza by the same author because I wanted ideas on how to build my own recumbent bike or trike. The plans and details are awesome, and Brad often explains why certain design decisions were made. I think the best thing about the book is that it inspires me to go out and build something. My mind is already cranking on how to modify the designs presented in the book. Now, my only problem is deciding between the Delta Wolf and the Street Fox!